COLCHESTER United Community Foundation teamed up with two national appeals to donate old staff kit to families in Africa.

With a new kit being purchased in summer 2024, CUCF sought to make best use of the outgoing strip and worked with two charities – KitAid and Taking Football to Africa and Beyond – to send it to those in need across Africa.

Taking Football to Africa and Beyond, run by RAF personnel, a link to Colchester’s military background, helped them to send 120 boxes of old kit, whilst KitAid collected and shipped a further 21 boxes.

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KitAid volunteer Barrie Neal said: “A super quality kit donation from Colchester United Community Foundation this week - massively appreciated.

“A substantial donation extending the life of the kit once enjoyed down here in Essex, now beginning a journey to a new part of the world, where football is loved, but participation is held back by a lack of access to kit and equipment.

“The kit donation this week follows over 1.1 million items of kit donated since KitAid’s formation in 1998.

“Football makes the world a better place.

"Your donation of kit ensures others get to enjoy a special moment too when they get to wear your colours and badge, and though many miles away they will know Colchester United Community Foundation, your generosity and continued commitment to 'spreading smiles for the love of the game.

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“Well done and thank you.”

KitAid was founded by Derrick Williams in 1998, after a chance encounter with a Tanzanian child wearing a worn-out Liverpool shirt.

Derrick was visiting a water project at the time, but quickly realised that the community had a love for the game, that was held back by a serious lack of resources in kit and equipment – with children playing football bare-footed.

CUCF Community Administrator Maree Mowatt, who coordinated the kit donation, said: “As part of the Environmental Sustainability Committee, it was important that we find a way to recycle our used staff uniforms and kits, whilst reducing our waste along the way.

“Once we heard of the great work Kitaid and Taking Football to Africa and Beyond were doing, we had to get involved.

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“Hopefully, by working with these great charities, we can build on our environmental and charitable work here at the Foundation, and maybe get some new Colchester United Fans along the way.

“It has been a real privilege to be involved with such great causes and we look forward to a long collaboration with them in the future.”

CUCF’s kit donation will be boxed up and sorted by volunteers in February, ready for shipping to some of the poorest communities in the world.